Robinho will have to fight for his first-team place at Manchester City when he eventually does return to action.

The £32.5million striker has been sidelined by an ankle injury since the beginning of September.

In his absence, Craig Bellamy has struck a rich vein of form, which makes him virtually undroppable at present.

It is little surprise therefore that Robinho has been linked with a January move to Barcelona, just 18 months after his British record arrival at Eastlands.

However, City assistant-boss Mark Bowen is confident Robinho will remain with the ambitious Premier League outfit, even if he cannot be guaranteed a place in Mark Hughes' starting line-up.

"Robi is one of those players who will always be surrounded by rumour and speculation," Bowen told www.mcfc.co.uk.

"It doesn't concern him - he comes in and always does his work with a smile on his face. He's a great guy and very much a part of the manager's plans.

"But Robi is no different from any other player in the squad in that he will be fighting for a place when he regains his fitness. Anybody who watches top-level football knows that is always the case now, and we are no different.

"Things can change so quickly though - a week is a long time in this game. An injury or two and you're back in the side, and then it's up to you to make sure that you stay there. People might be asking how Robi is going to get back in given Craig's form, but things do change."

No precise date has been set for his comeback, although it has been suggested the Carling Cup fourth round tie against Scunthorpe in a fortnight is a possibility.

And, whenever Robinho is given the green light to step up his work on the training ground, Bowen is sure it will not be long before he is available for selection again.

"He is a naturally-fit guy who doesn't carry a lot of weight, so once he's back training with the group it doesn't take him much time to be right," he said.